Some Honda Plants in North America to Remain Idle Next Week

DETROIT October 11, 2002 The Wall Street Journal reported two of the three Honda Motor Co. assembly plants that suspended production this week will remain idle early next week.

The auto maker also decided to suspend production Monday at yet another North American plant -- the Marysville, Ohio, facility that makes Honda Accord cars. The move comes as a result of shortages of components the Japanese auto maker faces in the aftermath of the West Cost port shutdown, company officials said.

Honda shut down a Honda Civic car plant in East Liberty, Ohio, the past two days and a Honda Odyssey minivan plant in Lincoln, Ala., Friday. A plant in Alliston, Ontario, which produces Odyssey minivans, Civics and Acura MDX and Pilot sport-utility vehicles also lost some production Friday.

Ed Miller, a Honda spokesman in Marysville, said the Lincoln plant will remain idle Monday but is expected to resume production Tuesday. The Ontario assembly plans to stay closed Monday and Tuesday in part because of a lack of components.

Honda is expected to make a decision over the weekend to see if it can resume work at Marysville on Tuesday. The facility didn't lose any production this week. Mr. Miller added the company would also decide over the weekend whether it could reopen the East Liberty plant Monday.

West Coast dockworkers headed back to work earlier this week after President Bush intervened on Tuesday, obtaining a temporary injunction to halt the shutdown that began Sept. 29. The dockworkers, however, face a huge backlog of cargo that built up over 10 days. Analysts and experts say it could take more than two months to clear the backlog.